Gatherer for corn harvesters



Aug. 15, 1950 2,518,732

M. H. TUF T GATHERER FOR CORN HARVESTERS Filed Sept. 25, 1944 2Sheets-Sheet 1 MINI! FIG. I

INVENTOR. MILES H. TUFT WITNESS {6 I ATTORNEYS Aug. 15, 1950 M. H. TUFT2, ,7

GATHERER FOR CORN HARVESTERS Filed Sept. 25, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l6INVENTOR. I

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 15, 19 50 ES PATENT OFFICE GATHERER FOR 'CORNHARVESTERS Miles H. Tuft, Lancaster, Califi, assignor to Deere'Manufacturing (30., a corporation of Iowa Application September '25,1944, Serial N 0. 555,716

The present invention relates generally to corn harvesters and moreparticularly tofthe classof corn harvesters in which the stalks aresevered from the ground and are gathered rearwardly and deliveredrearwardly tov a 'crop treating mechanism, such as a rotary chopper orthe like, The principal object of this invention has to,do with theprovision of a novel and improvedjharvesting mechanism for gathering anddelivering the stalks, and which more efficiently handles the severedstalks for feeding into the crop treating mechanism. A further objecthas to do with the provision of a corn harvesting mechanism which issimpler and lighterin construction than those heretofore known to thoseskilled in the art, but is more efiicient in operation and is lesssubject to clogging by stalks, weeds, etc.

3 Claims. (01; 56-1 6) Heretofore, stalk gathering mechanisms of -wardlyalong the-walls of the passage, but in order to properly supportthestalks during'delivery through the passage, the side walls werenecessarily spaced rather closely together, This resulted in the earsand foliage of the corn beingmore or less congested within the passage,so that in those machines where the stalks are fed lengthwise into acrop treating mechanism such as a rotary chopper, the ears and foliageof the various stalks interfered with the ears and foliage of otherstalks to the extent that under heavy crop conditions the feeding of thestalks was impeded. It is a more specific object of the presentinvention, therefore, to provide a corn harvesting and gathering devicein which the stalk passage provides ample room for receiving the earsand foliage of the plants during delivery of the stalks, but withoutsacrifice in the control and support of the stalks during delivery.

These and other objects-and advantages of my Figure 3 is a longitudinalsectional elevation taken along line 3-3 in Figure 1. V

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional elevation 2 taken through thegathering mechanism along the line 4 4 in Figure 2. I

Referringnow to the drawings, the corn harvester comprises a supportingframe including a transversely disposed beam 5 supported on a pair oflaterally spaced ground wheels 6, 6' journaled at opposite ends,respectively, of the beam 5, and a forwardly extending draft frame Iincluding a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending members8, 8 and an obliquely disposed bracing member 9 connected at its rearend to the main beam 5 and at its forward end to the longitudinallyextending members 8, 8. A laterally swingable draft tongue in ispivotally connected at I I to the oblique member 9 and extends forwardlybeneath a transverse tie member l2 connecting the forward ends of thelongitudinal members 8, ,8. The draft tongue It is detachably connected,by a bolt [3 to the transverse member l2 and is provided with hitchmember [5 adapted to be pivotally connected to the drawbarof a tractoror other suitable draft device, to position the harvester in offsetrelation to the tractor during operation in the field. For purposes oftransporting the machine to and from the field through narrow gates, thedraft tongue) can be disconnected from the transverse member l2 byremoving the bolt i3, after which the tongue can be swung inwardly andconnected to the inner end of the transverse member l2 by inserting thebolt 63 through a hole !4 to position the implement directly behind thetractor, as is well-known to those skilled in the art.

A flywheel type of rotary chopper, indicated generallyby referencenumeral 26, is disposed transversely behind the main beam 5 and iscarried thereon, and comprises a circular housing 2|, within which ismounted a chopping rotor (not shown), rotatable in a vertical planeabout a fore and aft extending axis. The chopping rotor is mounted on a,drive shaft 22 which is supported in a bearing housing 23 and carries apulley 24 at its forward end. The pulley 24 is driven through a flatdrive belt 25, which is trained over a drive pulley 25 mounted on apower shaft '21, the latter receiving power from the tractor enginethrough a flexible power transmitting connection including a shaft 28extending forwardly from therpulley 26 and enclosed in a safety shield29. The forward end of the shaft 28 is journaled in a bearing 35:carried on a bracket, 3| which is mounted on the draft tongue H3 and theforward end of the shaft 28. li to rseeive a se ransmit-Pies a nection(not shown) which connects to the power take-off shaft of the tractor ina manner wellknown to those skilled in the art. The rear end of thepower shaft 2? is supported in a gear cox 32 containing gears (notshown) for driving a transverse power shaft 33 which extends laterallyand furnishes power for the harvesting and gathering unit, indicatedgenerally by reference numerai and also for the feeding mechanism,indicated generally by reference numeral 35, which feeds the harvestedstalks to the chopper 2E3.

The implement so far described, is substantially the same as thatdisclosed. and claimed in Patent 2,3473%, granted May 2, 1944, to Hill.Since the Hill patent describes a machine of this type in detail, it isnot considered necessary to repeat the description here, since thepresent invention is not concerned directly with the general details ofconstruction of theharvesterfranie or with its chopping mechanism.

Coming now to that part of the structure with which the invention ismore directly concerned, the harvesting unit 35 comprises a.. pair of"gatherers Q, 49' the forward ends of which carry divider points 41, 4|which are adapted'to travel along the ground during operation and liftthe stalks of corn which may be lying on the ground between the rows.The dividers 4|, 4%" are mounted at the forward ends of a pair ofhorizontally disposed frames 42 extending forwardly from the forward endof an inclined harvester frame 43. The harvester frame comprises a pairof laterally spaced structural angle members 44 interconnected at theirlower ends by a transverse cutter bar supporting plate and extendingupwardly and rearwardly therefrom in substantially parallel arrangement.Transverse angle members 46 interconnect the longitudinalmembers 4A andthe rear ends of the latter are carried on journal bearings 4'! (see.Figure 2) on a transverse shaft 48 which is journal-led on the feederunit 36', the latter being rigidly mounted on the transverse frame beam5.

Thus, the frame 43 is swingable vertically about the transverse axis ofthe shaft 48 to raise and lower the, divider points 4| relative to theground. This'raising and lowering. action is accomplished through a handcrank 49 on the forward end ,of a rod 55, which is rotatably supportedin a bracket 5d on the forward end of the frame 1;.

as shown in Figure l. The rear end of the ad justing rod 59 is connectedthrough suitable mechanism, which is shown in some detail in theabove-mentioned Hill patent but which 1s. not a .1 powdon top of theshehzesfifi) 4 in thexplanevof.

opaatfcn of the: associated chains Ti, H

part of the present invention. This mechanism acts through a push rod51, pivotally connected at 52 to the lower end of the frame 43,110 swingthe latter vertically about the axis of the shaft 48.

Extending upwardly and rearwardly from the divider points M, 4.1 is. apair of sheet metal gatherer shields 55,, 55' defining a pair of sidewalls converging inwardly and rearwardly from the dividers 4|, M. andturning rearwardly in longitudinally extending planes to. form the upperportion of a longitudinally extending passageway 56. The tops of the.shields 55, 55 turn outwardly from the side walls and are substantiallyflat on top and incline upwardly and rearwardly to form a support forthe fallen stalks that are raised by the gatherers Each of the gatherershields 55, is carried. on a tubular support. intermediate the ends ofthe shields, the. supports 51, 51' being inclined downwardly andrearwardly- 4 substantially perpendicular to the top surface of theshields 55, 55. The lower end of each support 51, 57 is attached tobottom structure including a pair of members or shelves 6B, 66' each inthe form of a board disposed generally parallel to the frame 43 of theharvester unit and sup ported thereon on a pair of longitudinally spacedbrackets. BI, 61. mountedon the. transversely disposed frame anmes 46aThe brackets Bi 5| as best shown in Figure 4, comprise straps havingtheir ends bent downwardly and inwardly, the inwardly turned portions ofthe strap being secured by boltsrG-t to the transverse frame member.45.. A butt receiving channel, defined by the inner edges of the:shelves 6E 6D and a butt pan or bottom member 63, is mounted centrallyon the transverse members 46 and is inclined upwardly and rearwardlyfrom the cutter bar support 45 to the upper end of the frame 43. Thebutt pan 63 may, be spoken of as another member or component off thebottom. structure of which the shelves 613 and 60' form parts. sickle 65is reciprocable transversely between a pair of stationary knives 66, andis driven by suitable means (not shown) forv severing the cornstalksfrom the: field;

The stalks are moved upwardly. and rear.- wardly albngthe. inclined buttpan 6.3. by means of a pair of upper and'jlower. gatherer chains l9,til, ll, 'Il', on each of the gatherers 40, 4e. Each. of thev lower.chains H, H is. disposed. on top of the associatedshelves. 50 60 and.the two lower chains H, H operate in. a common plane which extendsupwardly and rearwardly parallel to the. shelves. 60-, 6B. and the frame43, and therefore parallel to. the butt pan 63.. The chains Hi, 70.,"Ll, H, are each of the continuous or endless. type and havev outwardlyextending; stal-h engaging fingers: 12.. The inner; flights of the twolower chains- LL, 'H- are adapted to travel upwardly and. rearwardly onopposite sides of the butt pan. 63, with;their. stalk engaging fingers[2. extending over the. butt. pan and terminating closely adjacent.-each, other over. the center of. the butt pan... The; forward ends ofthe; lower chains- H, I Ir are trained around idler sprockets it, which,are rotatably' mounted at the lower or forward end of the:associated-shelf 5'9; 69' in transverse alignment with the sickle Theupper ends ofthe' lorwer gatherer chains: Ti, "[1" are trained azcoundupper idler sprockets which are rotatably mounted at the upper end ofthe: inclined. shelf 6%.. Thelowerchains '-'i'-, H are driven by:drivesprockets T6 ii-6%" diseach of the drive sprockets l5; 1%" is ofcon-- siderably larger diameter than the twoidler sprockets 7 4,onopposite sides of the drive SprOcketsTS mew-en the result that boththeinner and the outer flightsof "the lower chains 1 lf' engage the drivesprockets on opposite portions of its periphery. The-drive sprockets 16,

if? arefixed to hubs lljwhich are rigidly mounted" on a drive shaft l8,which: issupported. near its lower end in abearing-Zd carried on theframed-3'.

Above the lower chains H, 'H" are disposed a second pair of shelves 80,33 spaced above the shelves 653 Gli'tofbrnrslotstherebetween adapted.

sprockets, l6 and the upper idler. sprockets 15, respectively. 1

Each of the upper chains 19, I0 is disposed on top of a shelf 83, 83 onits respective gatherer 40, 40. Each shelf 83, 83 is mounted at itsforward and lower end at the forward end of the respective gathererframe member 42 immediately behind the divider point 4| and extendsupwardly and rearwardly therefrom, parallel to the frame 43 of theharvester unit. The rear end of the shelf 93 is carried on a plate orflange 8,4 which is fixed to the tubular support 51 and also on abracing member 85 (see Figure 2), which extends rearwardly and is fixedtothe frame 93 near the pivoted end of the latter. The forward ends ofthe continuous chains 19, 19' are trained around idler sprockets 81, 81'which are rotatably mounted on the shelves 83, 83 just rearwardly of thedividers M, 4|. The inner flights of the chains Hi, '19 are trainedaround idler rollers 88, 88' mounted on the shelves 83, 83', the innerflights of the two upper chains l9, 19' thus being guided inwardly andupwardly and rearwardly in converging relation to bring the cornstalksinto the passage 58. The inner flights of the chains l9, l9 extendrearwardly in substantially parallel arrangement through the stalkpassage 55 and are trained at their rear ends around a pair of drivesprockets 89, 89,

which are mounted on the drive shafts 18, the

latter being extended upwardly and forwardly from the lowersprockets-l9, l6 and are sup ported at their upper ends in suitablebearings mounted on the shelves 83, 83, respectively, The upper drivesprockets 89, 89 are comparatively large in diameter, preferablysubstantially the same diameter as the lower drive sprockets l9, it fortraining the upper chains so that the tubular supports 51 arerespectively between opposite runs or flights of the chains. The innerflights of the upper chains l9, l0 bear against shoulders in the form ofbars 99, 99' fixed to the shelves 83, 83', for the purpose of holdingthe chains in engagement with the stalks in the stalk passage 55. A pairof flanges or shelves 9|, 9| are fixed to the gatherer shields 55, 55'alongthe walls thereof within the passage 56, over the upper chains 10.

A pair of side members or walls 92, 92 are vertically disposed inlaterally spaced arrangement on opposite sides of the bottom member orbutt pan 63 between the upper and lower chains 19, '10, ll, ll of eachgatherer unit 49, 49', The forward portions 93 of the side walls 92, 92are carried on the horizontal frame members 42, respectively, andconverge inwardly and rearwardl toward the stalk passage 56, where theside walls 92, 92' extend rearwardly in substantially parallelarrangement. As best shown in Figure 4, the side wall 92 is spacedlaterally to the left (as viewed in the figure), or toward the outsideof the unit 95, and is thus to the left of the inner flight of the chain19. Similarly, the wall 92 is spaced outwardly to the right (as viewedin the figure) of the inner flight of the chain 19'. By the same token,these walls are respectively offset outwardly from the inner edges ofthe shelves 59, 65 and 83, 83. Thus, while the inner flights of thechains and the inner edges of the shelves 69, 59 aredisposedsufficiently close together to maintain adequate control of thecornstalks as they are moved upwardly and rearwardly through the passage56, with the ends of the stalk-engaging fingers l2 nearly in contactwith each other, the side alls 82, 92 in. the

lower part of.- the stalkpassa'ge are spaced ap preciably farther apart,inorder to provide ample room for the. passageof foliage and ears ofcorn on the stalks; l x

. At therear end of the stalk passage 59, the side sheetsv 92, 92 areturned outwardly to form an enlarged stalkreceiving space, indicated byreference numeral '95, the side walls of which arerespectivelyapproximately in longitudinal alignmenttwith the dividerpoints 4|, 4|, the side walls beinglindicated by reference numeral 96,96'. Ai'transverse wall '91 forms the rear limit to the enclosure 95. Itwill be noted that while the lower gatherer chains llextend to the rearend of thespace 95, the upper chains 10 turn outwardly around the :drivesprockets 89, 89 thereby disengaging .the cornstalks at the front wallof the enlarged space 95. The flanges or shelves 9!, 9| .above the upperchains l9, 19 extend rearwardly over the ends of the fingers 12 as theyturn outwardlyaround'the drive sprocket 89 to cover the fingers in thisposition, as indicated at 94, thereby serving to assist in disengagingthe fingersv 12 from the stalks of corn as the latter are dischargedinto the enlarged space 95. Similarly, the rear ends of theshelves 89,83' project over the fingers T2 of the lower chains H, ll as they turnoutwardly around the rear idler sprockets '15, as indicated by referencenumeral in Figure .3. r

A stalk engaging roll'lilfi is disposed-transversely at the rear endofthe frame 43 with its upper portion substantially in alignment withthe rear end of (the butt pan B3 and is mounted on the shaft 48 forrotation therewith. The roll I99 is provided with outwardly extendingaxial blades 19!, between which are secured a plurality of wooden barsI92 which are slightly thinner than the length of the blades it I,permitting the latter to extend outwardly beyond the faces of the bars102. This construction has been found to provide approximately theproper amount of frictional engagement with the ends of'the stalksdelivered to theroll IE5 from the butt :pan 63 by the fingers 12 of thelower chains ll. However, under somecrop conditions, it has been foundthat a more aggressive action is necessary, which can be obtained byremoving the bars I92 from the roll I130.

The feeder unit 36 also includes a housing I06, which is rigidlyattached to the cutter housing 21 and has a cylindricallycurved upperwall portion I95 which encloses an upper feed roll I06. The roll I05 hasa plurality of axially extending radial blades I01. The front edge ofthe wall is rolled upwardly at I08 to provide a smooth surface againstwhich the cornstalks may be fed into the feeder mechanism 35. A pair ofupper and lower feed rolls H5, III are disposed within the feeder unit36 behind the roll Hit, the lower roll III being mounted on a shaft H2which is journaled in fixed position in the feeder unit 39, while theupper roll H9 is mounted on a shaft [I3 which is vertically shiftablewithin slots H4 in the side walls, as described in the aforementionedpatent to Hill. A plate or table H5 bridges the space between the rollsI99 and Ill.

The drive shafts 18 for driving the upper and lower chains l9, 10', 1|,1| are each extended downwardly below the harvester frame 43 and areprovided with a bevel gear I [6 on each of the shafts 18. The bevelgears H6 mesh with cooperative bevel gears Hl on a transverse shaft H3supported below the frame 43, the shaft H9 being driven through asprocket H9 by means of wisest a. drive; chain; 20. engages'aspmckettil; mounted:- on apowershaft Thepowerrshaft [22: is driven bysuitable-meanst (:nnt from: the transverse power shaft 33. Tha shafitiifi on which: the feederroll; [tibia-mounted iaalsndriuen from theshafttaiby 'suitabiemeams (hotshawni During operatiom. hitchidevice i5is pivotea'lly connectedtila tractor. drawbar-theaimplement: drawnforwardly inzthe: field; with: the harvester unit 35 disposed; in offsetrel'ationto the tractor;.and.centered;ona rowroficom The" stalks arecut: the 65:and are; gathered into: the stalkv passage; 56.1- by the;chains 18;..1Gf', H, I 1 the butt: ends of the stalks; slidingi up;-

wardly: along; the butt panv 63. into. theenlarged space 95. The; stalksare.- then: delivered: out.- wardlytoward one side ontheiotherby the;while: the butt ends of the stalks are: carried reaazwardly anddelivered to" 31161201181? [0:0, which carries the stalks; over' the.table H 5: to. the. feed;

rolls I; Hi, il l:. Theupper-roller' i062 engages the tops of. thestalks: and: serves;- to. urge. the: latter rearwardly; butt: end;first, intcr the. feed rolls H9, 1.. The flywheel. and: cutter bar: (notshown) are. disposed: closely adjacent. the feed rolls H0, IH andreceive the: stalks: from latter.

It. will be noted. that; by" virtue of the; onset: lower: walls; 92, theleaves and; ears: are not; compressed tightly togethen with the. resultthat 3 there is very little interfierence: between: the leavesandears ofthe various stalks: as the latter are pulled: end'wise. intot the.feedingunit 38; I have found. that this greatly iacilitatesthe. feedingof the stalks With much less trouble from cloeei and: tangli'ngs' thanin devices heretofore known to those. skilled; in the-tarts The cropchopped-to small pieces suitable for'ensilage by means of the flywheelchopper: Zfleand" discharged; by centrifugal force; through. an.upwardly and. rearwardly inclined: discharge duct I25 which leads to awagon towed:behind-:the;implement.

I claim:

1; In. aharvester for gatheringiplantssuch corn which includes anupright: stalkithatisffoli aged substantially throughout. its.height-except; for a; lower? or butt end. that is generally free offoliage, the improvement residing? inr-mechanism for moving alongupright fashionsuch staiks as have been previously" separated from theground, comprising: upright side str-ucmes defining aspassagte: alongwhich such stalks-may ing' the upper stalk-conveying element;

bemoved a bottomfstructurebelow and: in vertia cal alinement with thepassage and:- having: portions: comparativelyclosely spacedv apart:crossof; the'passa'ge. for guiding. the butt ends of the stalks; saidside structures including intermediate: portions. extending. upwardlyfrom the bottom structure" to such height. and being spaced apart.crosswise of. the passage such distance greater thanthespacing'of thebottom structure portions: as to. accommodate at least the. ioliagedmtermediatepartsaoi the stalks; said side struc tures further: havingupper portions comparatively closely spaced apart crosswise of'the pas.-sage a. distance appreciably less than the spacing between: saidintermediate portions oi the side structures for confining upper partsof the stalks; and means for engaging. the stalks to move them along thepassage.

The invention defined in. claim 1, further characterized in. that: thelast named means comprises. upper' and lower stalk-conveying elemeritsvoperative lengthwise of the passage and confined respectively to thoseportions of the passage defined by the bottom-structure and the -t upperportions of the side structures.

3. The invention. defined in claim 2, further characterized in that:means is provided substantially at the junction of the intermediate andupper portions ofthe' side structure for support-- and means is providedsubstantially at the junction of the side structure and the bottomstructure for supporting the lower stalk-conveying element;

MILES H. TUFT.

REFERENCES. CITE The following references are of record in the the ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 135,238! McCol lister et al. Aug.26, 1890 147,567 Thach Dec. 22, 1903 861,215. Sharp Sept. 24, 1907$79,404: MeInturf et al Feb. 18, 1908 1,176,276 C1ay: Mar. 21', 19161,256,683 Gray Feb. 19, 1918 l,62,765. l- Iiller? July 24', 19231:,699g252 Ronning et al Jan. 15, 1929 1 ,722,117 Trottman July 30, 1929

